Fire extension-ladder



(No Model.)

H. T. HAYES.-

PIRE EXTENSION LADDER'.

N0. 396,564. Patented Jan. 22, 1889.

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HENRY T. HAYES, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

FIRE EXTENSION-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,584, dated January 22, 1889.

Application led Ma: 3, 1888. Serial No. 272,705. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY T. HAYES, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire Extension- Ladders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, that form part of this speci [icat-ion.

This invention relates to improvements in firemens ladders-such as are mounted on wheeled trucks and, by means of lifting mechanism, are raised, extended, and held in position at various angles.

The improvements constituting my invention consist of certain novel construction and combination of hinge-joints and lift-ing mechanism, substantially as hereinafter fully described, whereby a ladder so mounted is quickly raised and securely held not only at anangle, but also in an upright orvertical position.

The nature of these improvements and the manner in which I have constructed, arranged, and applied the same are fully explained in the following description, in which the accompanying drawings are referred to by figures and letters.

Figure l of the drawings represents the front end of a ladder, truck, and turn-table with the lower end of the ladder attached to it and the lifting mechanisms applied in accordance with my present invention, the ladder being shown in full lilies in horizontal p0- sition and in dotted lines at an angle. Fig. 2 is a top view of the turn-table and parts mounted thereon without the ladder. Fig. 3 is a front view of the lower end of the ladder, and Fig. 4. shows the position and the operation of the parts with the ladder raised and set upright on the turn-table.

The object of these improvements is, first, to enable the ladder to be brought and held securely in an upright position without danger of throwing over, under any weight it may be called upon to sustain; and, secondly, to facilitate the work of raising and lowering these ladders under conditions and situations -for turning the shaft.

where the mechanism can not be readily worked-such,for instance, as in alleys, courts, and other narrow and confined quarters where occasion requires a ladder to be raised for use.

The wheeled truck and the turntable A are of any suitable construction. On the lower ends of each of the rails or side bars, B B, .of the ladder is secured a foot-plate, O, that is formed with a square end or bottom face, ox, and a lateral extension or knuckle, c2, having an eye, c3, for a l1inge-pin. These feet are bolted onto the ends of the rails with the square face or bottom substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ladder and with the knuckles toward the inner sides or center of the turn-table, so that they set closely to the face of the turn-table when the ladder is at horizontal position and come down to a bearing on the turn-table when the latter is turned upright. Suitable knuckles or bearing-blocks, E E, with eyes e @for a pin, D, are formed 0n 0r secured upon the face of the turn-table at the front end, and the knuckles on the feet C are set into them to take the pin. This arrangement of the hinge-joint brings the ladder down quit-e close to the truck-frame and furnishes a strongv connection in addition to its other feature of allowing the foot of the ladder to come down to a bearingV directly upon the turn-table.

The lifting-screw G is attached at the head gX by a swinging bracket-piece, H, t0 the top of the turn-table or the sideopposite the ladder-hinge, on which point of attachment it is free to move in a vertical arc. By means of miter-gears I I the screw is connected with a shaft, K, set across the turn-table in boxes m and having the cnds carried out beyond the sides of the truck and turn-table a sufficient length to take a hand-crank, P, that is used By these parts power is applied to the screw to raise and lower the ladder. The screw is set on line with the center of the ladder, so that it shall work midway between the side bars and thus have the weight of the structure distributed equally on both sides.

The nut N, by which the power of the screw is applied to the ladder is a screw-threaded IOO block having trunnions n n on the sides, that are of suitable length to extend from the middle spa-ee to the side bars. At these points they are journaled in boxes px px on the baek of the side bars, so that the nut is free to Change with the angular movement of the sereW in a vertical are. rllhe position of the nut is sueh that the serew stands about fortyiive degrees or thereabout from the horizontal when the ladder is upright, as this position secures ample power and resistance on the part of the lifting mechanism to hold the ladder. The size and position of the parts, however, will be determined by Irhe vsize and weight ol' the structure and will be arranged and applied as maybe found advisable.

The hand-shaft is Carried out to both sides of the truck, so that power ean be applied at one side or the other, or to -boih sides at onee;

and, under all eonditions, the weight being f equally disposed on the serew it turns rapidly and without binding' in the nut.

Having thus fully described 'my invention,

l what l Claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a ireinans ladder, the Combination of a hinged ladder havingl its hinge or pivot loi eated at one side of the ends or feet of the side bars and a lifting meehanism eonsistinf.;l i oi' the screw-shaft capable of .movement in a vertical are, the swiveled nut located in the Center o'l the ladder or midway between the side bars and the power-shaft, Constructed and arranged for operation snbsial'itially as y set forth. i 2. In Combination,,the 'fire-ladder mounted i on a turn-table, the centrally-placed liftingl serew, swiveled nut, and transverse powerapply power to the same from either side.

In testimony thatl claim th e i'oregoin I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

HENRY T. HAYES. [L s] Vitnesses: fl C. rW. M. SMITH,

W. N. KEMPsToN.

shaft geared into said screw and adapted to 

